This is the story of one woman's brief time spent as a producer in the film industry and what she was or wasn't complicit to. It's equal parts compelling and tedious because even though what she witnesses is really interesting, it's told so slowly that that the story just drags and drags. Overall, a good read, but the pacing was just too slow for me.

Haunting dark a raw look at the dark side of working in Hollywood.The #me too movement comes alive the da damage Thais done to Sara the young woman who is sharing her story.Wiinie Maui’s an author I will be recommending.thanks to #netgalley#doubleday.

Sarah is teaching screenwriting at a local college when she is contacted by a young and famous journalist making a name for himself revealing the bad behavior of powerful men. She's reluctant to speak with him, but when she does she finds herself telling her story. After graduating from Columbia, she finds a job as an intern at a small production company and, by making herself indispensable, works her way up to associate producer. During one exiting meeting during the Cannes Film Festival, the production company joins with a British billionaire, who gives them the money and connections to dramatically scale up their company. Before long, Sarah's in charge of producing a movie in LA and finding out that being good at her job is no protection, for herself or others.

I read Winnie M. Li's debut novel, which was based on her own experiences and while I didn't think that the book was entirely successful, it was brave and it left me with no doubt in my mind that Li wrote well and that she was willing to take risks in her writing. I was excited to see that she'd written Complicit and I was eager to see what she was going to do with the #MeToo theme. At first, I thought she was going to closely follow the story of one woman's experience reported in Ronan Farrow's book, especially given how the journalist was a stand-in for Farrow, but Li quickly went off into a different direction, one that allowed her to create a much more nuanced story. Once again, Li was brave in her choices and the resulting story was complex and thought-provoking. She also went into detail about what it takes to get a movie from an initial screenplay to the finished product, which was fascinating. I was impressed with this novel and I'm excited to see what Li writes next.

A relevant and fictionalized account of an assistant producer, Sarah Lai, and her career in the movie industry during the time when it was run by men who had no boundaries when it came to women. Sarah is now a college professor and the #MeToo movement and its revelations have made her decide to tell her story when a reporter from the New York Times contacts her regarding her time at Firefly Productions - later known as Conquest. Sarah has quite a story to tell.

This book was heartfelt and digs deep into Sarah's emotions and makes her look at her own actions during this time and wonder what she could have done differently that may have prevented some of the harm. I liked Sarah's character as an ambitious young girl with a love of movies trying to fit into a world so different from anything she's ever known. The story was fascinating and gives what I felt was a realistic picture of what could have gone on behind the scenes in making a movie.

Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on August 16, 2022.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing a NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Pub date: 8/16/22
Genre: suspense
In one sentence: Sarah Lai's film producing career is long behind her - but when the scandal that brought it to an end years ago is brought up by a journalist, she'll have to decide what her role in the story really was.

Complicit feels ripped from the #MeToo headlines, and I think it's the perfect time for a book like this. When #MeToo first broke, it was easy to demonize evil men but also give the systems that enabled them a pass. Women were seen as either victim or advocate, but it's clear now that some of the abused also enabled or perpetuated the cycle of abuse due to their trauma.

Sarah is a complex character, and her story is compelling. She enters the world of producing as the child of immigrants who own a Chinese restaurant - the very opposite of millionaire Hugo North, who sweeps in to fund the company's films. Sarah sees the good, the bad, and the ugly of Hollywood, and seemingly without realizing it, she slips into that world. I liked this framing of the book, as Sarah's reflections years later felt real to me. Hollywood may tell stories of heroes and villains, but in reality, things are not so clear cut, and Sarah's story is a much more intriguing and layered tale. 4.5 stars.

If you like slow burn, reflective books that tackle complex issues, I think you'll enjoy this one.

Complicit is a compelling, haunting thriller set in modern day NYC during the #MeToo era. It follows the story of Sarah Lai - daughter to Chinese immigrants who grows up in love with film, and ultimately begins working in the industry as a film producer. What unfolds is her story - one that many of us are familiar with today as MeToo splashed the front pages. One of high rolling, rich, and powerful men fueled by fame, drugs, booze, and young women. One of hard working women just trying to make it in the industry and keep out of the men’s reach.

This story is so beautifully done - from the dual timelines of present and past, to the depths in which the characters unfold as the story is told. This story is incredibly unique yet so familiar, and haunting. I was gripped from the start and this novel made me think - about the glitz and glam of Hollywood and what that sparkle hides, about how hard it is to be a working woman in the world, and about the guts it takes to look back into our past, label our actions and mistakes, and really acknowledge the events of our lives.

An incredible novel through and through, a must read for anyone who loves film, Hollywood, and uncovering the truth.

"Complicit" by Winnie M. Li is meant to be a story about the "me too" movement, but it really ended up being a story (to me) about Hollywood and movie making, with very little about the supposed point of the story. Reporter Thom is investigating claims around a billionaire financier and Sarah is among the people who he interviews.
I truly can't imagine trying to interview someone about a specific incident and them telling me their entire career. No, really, their entire career.
This story was a miss for me. I think if it was meant to be the story about a Chinese-American woman trying to break into the film industry, it would have been a much more interesting tale. But the premise that some horrifying incident lead to her leaving her dream career, but that when she's interviewed about the incident, she goes back to the first time she met.... every single person she worked with just fell really flat with me.

This book was more of a coming of age story than a mystery/thriller to me. a young woman, Chinese American with a passion for film, gets a job at a small production company. It is about her ambition, her desire to create and the world of men with money and all they expect of women, of drugs and sex and all the small insidious ways women are demeaned, esp women of color. It takes place in New York city, in part a neighborhood I grew up in and in Hollywood. Ultimately it was a moving story of friendship and small justices

Winnie M Li's book Complicit is honest, raw and emotional. Li explores the tight-lipped community working in the film industry. Is it as glamorous as it appears?

Synopsis:
Sarah Lai is a college professor. Ten years ago she was a successful producer. Sarah gave up her dreams of becoming a big name in Hollywood for a quieter career. A reputable journalist contacts Sarah to interview her about her famous ex-boss Hugo North. Is it time for the truth to emerge about Hugo? Does Sarah have dark secrets of her own to share?

Complicit is fiction with a strong undercurrent of truth. Li addresses very tough topics with unabashed realism. Though it takes a while for the story to take off, it is an amazing novel. This is not a light read and may not be suitable for all audiences due to the graphic nature.

Complicit is available on August 16th. Taking on pertinent subjects that need to be discussed is commendable on the part of Winnie M Li.
(5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, for allowing me to review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
4 stars
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In this story, we follow a “Hollywood-has-been” Sarah. She was able to live her dream of having a job behind the cameras as a producer. However, she is now a lecturer at a college. We follow the life of a young Sarah through a journalist interview. We learn about her experience working with billionaire Hugo North. Sarah shares all her dark secrets and really digs deep into all the emotions she’s been carrying for all those years.
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I enjoyed this book. Loved the premise. A very sensitive but important topic! I loved the behind-the-scenes of movie-making. The beginning of this book wasn’t my favorite but as soon as Sarah got the job- I was hooked! Definitely recommend this read.

This is very much a literary thriller that is intricately and intelligently written. The timely subject matter of the #metoo movement is absorbing. Sarah's story pulled me in and all the cinematic bits were so so interesting. Sarah was so brave in confronting her past and discussing it with Thom. I loved how all the sensitive topics were dealt with throughout, it is nice to see them be part of the plot in fiction. Everything from racism, sexism, and assault to harassment. I enjoyed how in-depth the story was practically starting from Sarah's beginning. I got a real good sense of her as a person and as a character. In fact, all the characters are really fleshed out, well defined, well rounded, and very well developed. The writing kept me engaged and on my toes, I literally felt sickened reading some parts. Hats off to the author for pulling that off and making me feel some very deep emotions. A poignant and daring look into the film industry that I found compelling, beautifully written, and very nuanced.

Winnie M Li is an outstanding author who writes such captivating novels! The reader will become enthralled in her books, and once that happens, it is impossible to put them down. They touch heavy topics, but are full of depth, and evoke emotion — this book is yet another example of this! I look forward to reading more from the author and can’t recommend her enough!

The interview style is a nice change of pace but ultimately the story didn’t work for me.


I didn’t get a good feel for Sarah. She had interesting stories about her time Industry but it became too rambling at points.The plot got lost in description and the original intent became muddled.

Toward the middle I started skimming.

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC*
3.5 stars

There was so much potential for this book and I kept expecting something more to happen but ultimately it was a very subdued take on the #MeToo Movement.
The MC is dealing with a lot of guilt and it's hard for her to overcome the events that happened during her time as a producer 10 years prior. The story for me moved too slow and didn't really have a climax. You knew sexual assault and harassment would eventually come up but it fell a little flat.
I would have loved an epilogue or an ending expanding on whether or not she reconnects with people she previously met in the industry or made a better life for herself. It just seemed nothing dramatically changed for the better or worse.

This book was so good! I want to see more from this author in the future!! I couldn't put this book down. What a page turner!!!

Complicit by Winnie M Li is a beautifully written novel of pre-MeToo Hollywood and its reckoning. Sarah is a former associate producer who is interviewed about her experiences in the industry and with a celebrated film producer. But Sarah has her own regrets. A very smartly-written book by a talented author.

Sarah Lai’s producing days are behind her. Now a lecturer at a college, she tries to avoid thinking about her past in the movie making industry. That is, until a journalist reaches out to tell her story. She must face the truth, unleash old secrets, and confront her own actions.

I loved the plot and characters of this book but it took me so long to get through. I think the details were overwhelming and made me slow down. It ALMOST took away from the story for me. However, the content was SO GOOD. This was definitely a story that needed to be told and I think everyone should read it!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the copy of Complicit. I loved the start of the book and found Sarah’s story interesting. Then it got so much into details about movie making, I started to get bored. Too much detail that didn’t feel related to the story and I kept waiting for something to really happen and find out what the ‘harrowing incident’ was. Well of course we didn't find out until really near the end and the book felt really long. Maybe the book lost its focus on the actual story and got lost. Was she really complicit or was she just young and didn’t know better? I liked the parts about Sarah and her family the best and how they struggled to understand her. The structure of the book was also confusing. It was mostly Sarah’s monologue about the past, but would she really tell a reporter all of those details? I found the transcripts much more enlightening.
I loved the idea of the story, the execution was rough for me. I enjoyed the writing and will look for other books by this author. If you are really interested in movie making I think you will enjoy this book. I don’t think it was really for me.

It's been awhile since I read this novel but I remember liking it a lot. Much of the book felt very realistic as far as themes of power in the Hollywood industry went.

I think this had so much potential but it didn't read like a thriller. It read more like straight up general fiction. That aside a story about Chinese immigrant trying to make it in the film industry. The story was really bogged down with film details so the #metoo part got lost.